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Iran warns Israel, U.S.

Gen. Jafari also warned that Iran might close the Straits of Hormuz if it is attacked. | AP Photo

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | 9/16/12 9:14 AM EDT

The top commander in Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard warned Sunday that his country’s missiles will ensure “nothing will remain” of Israel if it takes military action against Tehran over its nuclear program.

Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari also warned that Iran might close the Straits of Hormuz if it is attacked, withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and hit U.S. bases in the Middle East.

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Such warnings and references to Israel’s destruction have been made before by Iranian officials. But Gen. Jafari’s comments to a Tehran news conference were an unusually detailed, strongly worded and comprehensive listing of the means that Iran says it has to retaliate against a strike on its nuclear facilities.

The United States and Israel have left open the possibility of such a strike if Iran does not back down from what they say are a push to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

“Our response to Israel is clear: I think nothing will remain of Israel (should it attack Iran). Given Israel’s small land area and its vulnerability to a massive volume of Iran’s missiles, I don’t think any spot in Israel will remain safe,” he said.

He said Iran’s response to any attack will begin near the Israeli border. The Islamic Republic has close ties with militants in Gaza and Lebanon, both of whom have rocket arsenals that could be used for cross-border strikes.

He said he did not believe however that Israel would attack on its own. Should the U.S. launch a strike, Jafari suggested that Iran could respond with missile salvos at U.S. bases in the Gulf.

“The US military bases sprawled around Iran are considered a big vulnerability. Even the missile shields that they have set up, based on information we have, could only work for a few missiles but when exposed to a massive volume of missiles, the shields will lose their efficiency and will not work,” he said.

He also said that Iran warned that oil shipments through the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be in jeopardy if a war breaks out between Iran and the United States. Iranian officials have previously threatened to close the waterway, the route for a fifth of the world’s oil, but less frequently in recent months.

“If a war breaks out where one side is Iran and the other side is the West and U.S., it’s natural that a problem should occur in the Strait of Hormuz. Export of energy will be harmed. It’s natural that this will happen,” he said.

Gen. Jafari said that, if attacked, Iran will no longer be committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, under whose terms U.N. inspectors visit Iranian nuclear sites. He said however that this does not mean that Iran would build a nuclear weapon.

“If the world and international organizations fail to prevent such an attack, it’s natural that Iran’s commitments (to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty) would naturally change and the situation would be different from the past. These are the risks and consequences that such an attack will bring about, and these matters would be a deterrent.”

Jafari’s comments come as U.S.-led naval forces from the West and Arab allies gather for naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf that include mine-sweeping exercises.

Readers' Comments (12)

Netanyahu admitted this morning to CNN's Candy Crowley that Israel has no proof that Iran is building a nuclear weapon. I believe that Iran's assessment is correct regarding Iran's retaliatory capabilities and US and Israeli military limitations. The US should reassess its involvement in that part of the world in light of current events, including Natanyahu's penchant for war mongering. It could be a deflection from Israeli domestic problems and thus political.

Iran continues to enrich uranium in high volumes to levels far beyond that needed for its one commercial nuclear power plant. The UN agency charged with keeping nuclear programs from going into nuclear weapons production voted this week - including Russia and China- that Iran was refusing to cooperate with requests for inspection. Iran has not shown that its nuclear program is peaceful. Chanting "Death to the US" and threatening to obliterate Israel and US military bases makes the current Iranian regime a terrorist government.

Susan Rice was just now brilliant on MTP. The US should NOT be pressured by Israel into plunging into another middle eastern military situaion. Meanwhile Bibi is dog whistling to the neocon conservatives while he hypes the urgency of confronting Iran. Haven't we seen this movie before?

Rice did a good job of explaining the brutal sanctions that we have in place and the impact they are having on Iran. As with all of Obama's decisions, his game is chess not tackle football. He is setting this up perfectly to cripple Iran from within and in doing so will be sparing hundreds if not thousands of American, Israeli and Iranian lives. Rice stated that our intelligence will know when and if a nuclear weapon is emminent and will keep all options open but only a fool would rush into war out of blind fear.

You are right, but the rush to war isn't about fear. They sell it that way to the unknowing American public, which seems to thrive on living in fear. No, the rush to war is nothing more than a bunch of folks who have no skin in the game casually playing a live-action game of Risk for their pleasure, and the enrichment of friends and donors. The Iraq war had the additional element of being "for my Daddy", correcting a perceived wrong done on GHW Bush by Saddam.

Smart foreign policy: Give Israel a choice of one, utter annihilation for trying to stop a nuclear Iran, or utter annihilation by a nuclear Iran. Seems like they forgot one choice: utter annihilation of Iran before it can get one jet off the ground.

The short term weather forcast for Teheran and surrounding areas, from the Israeli weather service,--- MOSTLY CLOUDY,AND VERY WINDY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW TO MID THOUSANDS. AN OCCASIONAL BURST OF BRILLIANT SUNLIGHT .

Sexed-up INTEL just like what we've come-to understand.. Hell-O General P and Admiral D.. If I hear it right, You folks must be for the USA 1st. Perhaps because we're half-broke, or could it be a matter of Honor in regard integrity, honesty and downright decency.

I think it is "High-Time" to take another look at anti_American marketing plans to destruct us further. We need not gas at $5.99 a gallon. Why don't Y'all hold Paul Wolfowitz accountable for breakin' his promise. You should recall his sayin' "Iraq will pay for itself in oil benefit", but it did not pan-out.. Did it? LOL

Heh Paul: I guess the CFR is takin' care of Ya though, but if you need gas or food money 'give me a call'. Then watch how fast my race car can deliver.. Oops.. a pit stop is necesary.. OK later I'll help You.

You are Your deceivers.. even great liars before god Himself. Do me a favor.. sin against yourself and leave our names out of the mix.. Can Ya.. or are You too busy making deposits at the federal reserve. What is it about You theives of the heart that work endlessly to drag American down to the bargain basement. The floors are squeeky.. that's ambiance, but what you left in the comode stinks.

You neo-Cons.. aka new con men...I've no confidence in you or in that bastion of secrecy known as the Council on Foreign Relations.

As Cicero said "They are amonst us.." The U.S.

I shall listen to Alex Jones at noon EST on internet or shortwave on 12,160 live for 3 hours. At least I know he has my best interest at heart. You do not.. The CFR does not but General P and Admiral D know...But I'll believe it when I see it.

Oops, I almost forgot that it's Muslins, the Arabs.. anything but the man in the whit trunks.

Just ask ben Shalom Bernanke.. he promised 2% inflation but gas went up 3% Friday. O well - Maybe it will drop soon, huh? LOL

The United States should stay out of initiating anymore wars in the Middle East. If Israel wishes to go to war against Iran, than they should be on the own!

The American people are tired of war and economic misery. It's time to get rid of both Parties in Washington and vote for an American Nationalist Party that will take our country back from the special interest and serve the traditional American citizen.